Vienna has announced it's saying goodbye to its famous €1-a-day travel pass, a policy that let you hop on trams and trains for just one euro each day. 🚋💶
For decades, the Austrian capital—home to Johann Strauss and Ludwig van Beethoven—boasted one of the world’s most accessible public transport networks. Its streetcar lines are legendary, and the city topped the global liveability chart five times since 2018.
But a squeeze on public finances means travel passes will now cost more. Officials warn this change could affect Vienna’s coveted liveability ranking, which slipped to second place this year amid rising security concerns.
Hermann Knoflacher, a mobility planning expert at Vienna’s University of Technology, says the move marks a shift. "The strategy in Vienna for the last 40 years was going away from the dependency of car traffic to more pedestrianisation, public transport and more cycling," he explains. "This has changed with the decision to enhance the annual price for public transport so this can have some effects in the future ranking of course."
As ticket prices go up, locals and travelers alike will be watching closely. Can the city maintain its reputation as a top spot for urban living? Stay tuned! 🌍✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
